Concomitant use of miglitol and mitiglinide as initial combination therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

AimTo evaluate the efficacy of miglitol and mitiglinide alone or in combination on the metabolic profile and incretin secretion in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients.MethodsPatients on diet and exercise with or without metformin, were randomized to receive either miglitol, mitiglinide, or a combination, three times daily for 12 weeks.ResultsAt 12 weeks, HbA1c decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and 1,5-AG increased significantly (p < 0.001) in all three groups, with the greatest change seen with combination therapy. Effective improvement of postprandial hyperglycemia was demonstrated by a meal-loading test in all three interventions but serum insulin concentration was not increased by miglitol. In a subset of patients without prior metformin administration, faster and better glycemic control was achieved with the initial combination. After meal loading, serum total GLP-1 significantly increased only with miglitol monotherapy (p < 0.05) and serum total GIP significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the arms employing miglitol after 12 weeks.ConclusionMiglitol/mitiglinide combination is more potent than monotherapy in improving glycemic control through the reduction of postprandial glucose excursion and the simultaneous sparing of additional insulin secretion. A marked difference in the effects of miglitol and mitiglinide on incretin secretion was also demonstrated.